Belt-supporting device.



No 736,905. PATBNTED AUG. 18, 1903.

F. R. WILLSON, J11.

BELT SUPPORTING DEVICE.

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No. 736,905. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

'P. R. WILLVSON, JR-

BELT SUPPORTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1-901 K0 I'ODJBLP 3SHEETS-SHEET '2.

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BELT SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 5, 1901.

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. FREEMAN R. \VILLSON, JR, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A.

JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BELT-SUPPORTlNG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,905, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed August 5. 1901.

To all whom, it vita concern:

Be itvknown that I, FREEMAN R. WILLsoN, Jr.,a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBelt-Supporting Devices, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to devices for supporting flexible belts atpoints between the operating-pulleys, more particularly to that class ofbelts which are caused to assume a trough-like form for conveyingmaterial from 15 point to point; and the invention consists in theproduction of an adjustable device whereby the belt may be supportedhorizontally or caused to assume a trough-like form, as required.

As many of the devices may be employed between the operating-pulleys asmay be required; but for the purpose of illustration I have shown in thedrawings one ofthe devices complete, in which- Figure 1 is a side viewof the device with the belt in transverse section and the belt andpulleys in horizontal position. Fig. 2 is'a sectional side view of thesame with the belt and pulleys adjusted to a reversely-inclined posi- 0tion. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the framework with the pulleys removed.Fig. 4 is an end view of the framework with the pulleys removed. Fig. 5is a plan view of a belt conveyer, of rubber or other suitable material,5 and of a belt supporting and guiding device embodying my improvements.Fig. 6 is a side elevation.

The supporting-framework consists of a base 5, secured in any suitablemanner to a 40 foundation and having standards 6 7 rising therefrom andsupporting a transverse shaft 8, the latter preferably held rigidly inthe standards, as by set-screws 9 and 10.

Journaled upon the shaft 8, between the hubs of the standards 6 and 7,are two arms 11 and 12, having bosses or hubs 13 14, respectively, inwhich tubular stub-shafts 15 16 are rigidly secured by being screwedinto the hubs 13 14, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends ofthe arms 11 and 12 are pro-. vided with adjusting-screws 17 and 18, en-

Serial No. 70,995. (No model.)

gaging the opposite sides of a central rib 19 on the base 5, as shown.By this means the arms 11 and 12-, with their attached tubularstub-shafts l5 and 16, may be adjusted to any desired angle, as shown inFig. 2.

Journaled upon the tubular stub-shafts 15 and 16 are pulleys 20 and 21,uniform in size and adapted when the arms 11 and 12 are adjusted tobring the tubular stub-shafts in horizontal alinement to likewise comeinto horizontal alinement, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus support the belt22 in corresponding horizontal position. When thus arranged, the pulleysserve as supports or idler-pulleys to the belt. When itis desired toemploy the belt in a trough-like form to serve as a conveyer to carrymaterial from point to point, the pulleys will be adjusted by means ofthe screws 17 and 18, whichwill turn the edges of the belt 22 upward, asshown in Fig. 2,and cause it to travel over the pulleys in the form of atrough or conductor, and the degree of inclination of the pulleys may bevaried to any required extent to correspondingly increase or decreasethe depth of the trough. As many of the sets of pulleys may be employedas may be required or as the length of the line renders necessary. Theymay also be of any size or length and adapted to form trough-like beltsof any angle or capacity.

Welded or otherwise securely fastened into the outer endof each of thetubular stubshafts 15 and 16 is a plug 23, and into the center of eachplug is tapped a screw-plug 24, as shown in Fig. 2. The interiors of thetubular stub-shafts are intended to be utilized as reservoirs for thelubricating compound, as indicated at 25in Fig. 2, the lubricantescaping by oil-perforations 26,as shown. 0 By this means a large supplyof lubricating compound may be retained in the stubshafts and fed to thepulley-bearings as fast as required. Thus the perfect, constant, andautomatic lubrication of the pulleys is in- 5 sured.

Guard-caps 27 are screwed over the outer ends of the hubs of thepulleys, as shown, to form dustguards to the pulley-bearings. Thelubricating-reservoirs may thus be re- I00 charged while the apparatusis in operation, as the caps 27 and screw-plugs 24 may be detached andreinserted while the apparatus is running.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a conveyer 22, supported and guided bydevices embodying my improvements, it extending from one terminalguiding-drum 23 to another at 24:, either of which can receive powerfrom a driving device andtransmit it to the conveyor. The conveyor partsproper of these mechanismsare made of any of several materials, such asrubber, canvas, or the like. Generally they are so supported along theiroperative run that the edges shall be held up somewhat above thehorizontal plane of the central longitudinal line, as shown in Figs. 2and 6. When they are used with materials of some sorts orc0nditions,they can advantageously be tipped up thus at their edges to agreater extent than when they are used with others. If the parts areconstructed in the way described, variations in the trough can be made,so as to adapt the mechanisms for these different sorts of work. In somecases relatively large articles are to be carriedsuch as packages,boxes, or the likeand in such case the belt supporting and guidingdevices can be so adjusted that the belt can be held substantially fiathorizontally, as shown in Fig. 1. Again, if for any reason either sideof the belt should tend to run differently from the other this can beprevented by adjusting properly the guideroll upon one sideindependently of the other.

While above I have described in detailthe parts of that form ofmechanism which I have selected for illustration,it will be understoodthat the features of invention are not to be limited to such details.Any suitable support instead of the one shown at 6, 7, and 8 can beemployed.

In order to provide for having the two edges of the belt supporteduniformly and adjustable to corresponding points, I place the tworollers or pulleys directly oppositely to each other, one under one edgeportion and the other under the opposite edge portion of the belt, thelongitudinal lines of one pulley coinciding with those of the other whenthey are in horizontal positions, as in Fig. 1, and so that their axesof rotation shall always be in the same vertical planes at right anglesto the path of the belt to whatsoever angles of inclination to thehorizontal these axes may be adjusted. Consequently I support the twosides of the belt uniformly and avoid the tendency to throw eithersideinto an undulatory position differing from that of the other and alsoavoid any tendency for the belt to climb in either direction.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to support a bolt bymeans of pulleys or rollers held not by positively-acting locks, stops,or abutments, but by friction-clamps, the rollers being so arranged thateach should lie in vertical planes at right angles to the belt differentfrom the vertical planes in which were situated the other rollers, suchconstruction being illustrated in German Patent No. 45,285 of 1888; butthe present construction differs in several important respects fromthose referred to. It is desirable to provide rollers of largecircumference and long diameters, and consequently if they are notplaced directly opposite to each other, as in my case, there is aconsiderable distance from the axis of one to' the axis of the next, andthe two edges of the belt are not uniformly supported, nor are thefriction holders which have been proposed for securing the rollers orpulleys in position after adjustment available for resisting the gravityof the heavy loads to which belt-carriers of this class are subjected,the frictionally-acting clamps yielding under the leverage of the loadand causing them to slip. I einploya positively-acting lock, stop, orabutment in contradistinction from friction, which after adjustment ofthe roller from one angle ofinclination to another takes the thrust ofthe load on the carrier and prevents it from causing any variation insuch angle of adjustment. I have found it desirable to employ an armconnected to the roller-shaft either at one end or theother and extendeddown for some distance, so that I can utilize it to engage with theadjusting devices and also as one element of the positively-acting lockor stop to take the thrust of the load. By turning the screw-rods theadjustment to different angles of inclination is effected, and byturning the lock-nuts or jam-nuts the adjusted parts are locked in theirnew positions.

I am aware that since the time of my invention it has been proposed toemploy two opposite pulleys each having an arm connected to the outerend of the pulley-shaft and extended down to an adjusting and lockingdevice, and While I do not herein specifically claim a pulley mechanismwith arms so connected to the outer ends of the shafts I wish itunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisedetails of construction and arrangement of the arms which I have hereinselected for illustration.

I am further aware that oppositely-arranged inclined pulleys under theedge portions of conveyer-belts are not new when broadly considered,they having been heretofore mounted upon rigid axes in inclinedpositions both in two pulley-supports, as illustrated in my Patent No.612,939, of October 5, 1898, and in three-pulley constructions, such asshown in Patent No. 571,604 to T. Robins, among others, which illustratethe use of central horizontal pulleys to support the central portion ofthe belt and inclined pulleys at the ends of the central pulleys tosupport the edges of the belt, and it will be understood that it is thesupports and adjusting devices for the inclined pulleys to which thepresent improvements relate.

\Vhat I claim. is-

1. In a mechanism forguidingand supporting a conveyer-belt,pulley-supports adj 11stoppositely-inclined and vertically-adjustablepulleys, having their axes of rotation in the same vertical plane atright angles to the travel of the belt, and adapted to have said axesadjusted in the said plane to diiferent inclinations to the horizontal,substantially as set forth.

3. In a mechanism for supporting and guidinga conveyer-belt, thecombination of two oppositely-inclined pulleys vertically adjustableabout a common axis, and having the longitudinal lines of both of saidpulleyslying in common vertical planes which are at right angles to thetravel of the belt, substantially as set forth.

4:. In asupporting and guiding mechanism .for a conveyer-belt, pulleysadapted to have their peripheral surfaces in contact with the belt, andshafts for said pulleys adjustable about a common axis longitudinal ofthe belt to either of several inclinations to the horizontal.

5. The combination with the conveyor-belt of two belt-supporting pulleyshaving their axes of rotation in the same vertical plane one under eachside of the belt andeach adjustable independently of the other to eitherof several positions of different inclinations to the horizontal,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the conveyor-belt of two belt-supporting pulleysone under each side of the belt and each adjustable independently of theother about a common axis longitudinal of the belt to either of severalpositions inclined to the horizontal.

7. The combination of the counterpart pulley-supports verticallyadjustable on a common hinge-axis longitudinal of the belt, and thepulleys thereon mounted on axes in the same vertical plane transverse tothe said axis, substantially as set forth.

8. In a support and guiding device for a conveyor-belt, the combinationof the pulleysupports adjustable on a common axis longitudinal of thebelt and each provided with aninclined shaft, and the pulleysrespectively mounted on the said shafts, substantially as set forth.

9. Aguide andsupporting device for a flexible belt having two relativelyelongated cylindrical pulleys, in combination with a support for each ofsaid pulleys, mounted on a common hinge-axis and means whereby saidsupports may be adjusted to regulate the inclination of said pulleys,substantially as set forth.

10. A guide and supporting device for a flexible'belt having tworelatively elongated cylindrical pulleys, an independent support foreach of said pulleys, a central stationary standard, means whereby saidpulley-supports are movably connected to said standard, and meanswhereby the free ends of said pulley-supports are adjusted vertically,about a common axis substantially as setforth.

11. In aguide and supporting device for a flexible belt, a stationarycentral support, two stub-shafts each movably connected by one end tosaid central support, a pulley journaled upon each of said stub-shafts,and means for adjusting said stub-shafts to regulate the inclination ofsaid pulleys, substantially as set forth.

12. In a guide and supporting device for a flexible belt, a centralshaft, pulley-supports having depending arms and movably engaging saidcentral shaft, pulleys journaled upon said supports, and adjusting meansapplied to said depending arms whereby the inclination of said pulleysmay be regulated, substantially as set forth.

13. In a guide and supporting device for a flexible belt, a supportingbase-frame, a longitudinal shaft supported in said base-frame,pulley-supports having depending arms and movably engaging saidlongitudinal shaft, pulleys journaled upon said supports, and screwssupported in said depending arms and engaging said base-frame, wherebysaid pulley-supports may be adjusted to regulate the inclination of saidpulleys, substantially as set forth.

14. In a device for guiding and supporting a belt, the combination of apivotal support 8,

the hubs 13, 14 mounted thereon, the shafts 15, 16 carried by said hubs,means for adjusting the said shafts 15, 16 around the axis; at 8, andthe belt-supporting pulleys mounted on the said shafts, substantially asset forth.

15. In a supporting device for a conveyerbelt, two pulleyslongitudinally opposite to each other and arranged to have their activesurfaces liein horizontal positions and provide for the two edgeportions of a belt when fiat supports on the same transverse lines atright angles to the belt and having hinges on axes longitudinal of thebelt, which hinges are situated between the inner ends of the pulleys,and around which hinges the pulleys while remaining in the same verticalplanes transverse to the belt can be adjusted to different angles ofinclination to the horizontal, substantially as set forth.

16. In a supporting device for a conveyorbelt, two opposite pulleys forsupporting the edge portions of the belt adapted to lie in horizontalplanes, and when so lying having a space between their inner ends, andalso adapted to be adjusted to different inclinations, their axes alwaysbeing held in vertical planes at right angles to the path of the belt,shafts for the said pulleys and arms connected to the shafts andextending to points below the pulleys, said arms being adjustable, andmeans for holding the arms in diderent positions of adjustment,substantially as set forth.

connected to each of said shafts at one end,

means below the belt for adjusting the arm, and a positively-actingabutment for holding the shaft and pulley at difierent angles of ad- 1justment, substantially as set forth.

18. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with asuitable frame and a conveyer-belt arranged thereon, of a series ofsupports for the belt, each support having two pulleys arranged tosupport the edges of said belt, means for adjusting said pulleys todiagonal planes and means for positively looking the same in suchpositions against downward movement under the strain of the belt,substantially as set forth.

19. In a supporting device for a conveyorbelt, the combination of twopulleys lying in the same vertical planes at rightangles to the belt,each pulley having a vertically-swing- 'ing shaft, and an adjlisting-arm connected to one end of said shaft, and means for adj ustingthe said armand the pulley to difierent positions at different angles ofinclination to the horizontal, substantially as set forth.

20. In a supporting device for a conveyorbelt two opposite pulleys forsupporting the edge portions of the belt each lying throughout inlongitudinal planes of the belt other than the longitudinal planesthereof in which the other lies, and each adapted to have its axis ofrotation lie in different inclinations to the horizontal while in avertical plane at right angles to the lines of the belt, and apositively-acting abutment for holding the pulley in its differentangles of adjustment, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREEMAN R. WILLSON, JR.

